Michael Jackson’s film is set to be a controversial success

However, these allegations remain part of Jackson’s life story, complicating the attempt to turn his life into a nine-figure Hollywood blockbuster. But given the pop star’s current demand, he’s likely to be a hit, too. Industry analysts expect Michael to be even bigger than Bohemian Rhapsody.

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If King had any initial doubts about the wisdom of giving Jackson the “Bohemian Odyssey” treatment, those doubts may have been dispelled by his soaring popularity since his death of a drug overdose, aged 50, in 2009.

On Spotify, he currently has 64.8 million monthly listeners and 40.5 million followers, making him the No. 27 artist on the streaming service in the world. His life and music are also the basis for the Cirque du Soleil spectacular, Michael Jackson One, which has been running in Las Vegas since 2013, and the Tony Award-winning musical show, MJ the Musical, which has been running on Broadway since 2022. The biopic will be the latest addition to Michael Jackson’s illustrious creation.

It was announced in January 2023 that Michael will be written by John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator) and directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day). It was later confirmed that the star cast would include Colman Domingo, Miles Teller, and Nia Long, and that the lead role would be played by Jackson’s nephew, Jafar Jackson. As previously mentioned, its producer knows a thing or two about upbeat pop music’s resume. In 2024, a spokesperson for the new film told the BBC: “From the beginning, Michael Jackson’s family has placed their trust in Graham King, and has opted out of the creative process.”